Chicago Fire creator and exec producer Dick Wolf sounded confident this morning that his freshman firefighter drama would be renewed for a second season, considering that the hour has helped to goose ratings in its Wednesday night time slot 17% this season with adults 18-49. How confident is he? “We even know what the first episode of the third season is,” Wolf admitted at today’s NBC Summer Press Day. “We are definitely looking at the remainder of this season as a jumping-off point for next season.” And in fact, as Deadline has reported extensively, a Chicago Fire spinoff is very much in the works, with the rookie season finale tabbed as the jumping-off point for a series centered in the Chicago Police Department. It too will be from Wolf Films and Universal TV. However, in keeping with his tight-lipped style, Wolf would say only, “We always talk about every possible permutation of what can happen, but we never talk about development.” When asked if it is in fact renewed, might he consider a storyline paying homage to the responders of last week’s Boston Marathon bombing. “Dealing with terrorism is very very tough, that’s all I’m gonna say,” Wolf said, before adding, “The last thing we want to do is exploit a tragedy that is so specific that it would be difficult.”

Not only did Wolf express his hope Chicago Fire would return but also hopes thatLaw & Order: SVU will be back for a 15th season. He also maintained that he couldn’t be happier with the way the first season of Fire has gone down. “There haven’t been many fires this season,” he said. “It’s been an incredibly positive experience from the network to the studio to the cast and everything in-between. Hopefully this show is coming back and hopefully it will be growing and doing better next year.”

12 Comments

Olmstead saved this show. Why are they still parading Wolfman Jack around like he does anything?

Joe Brinkley • on Apr 22, 2013 6:58 pm

seriously, i agree. Olmstead is a great showrunner. Dick Wolf is just a name brand. Olmstead should be up there not Wolf. He’s the one day to day running the show…

Steven • on Apr 22, 2013 1:08 pm

That reminds me of how Third Watch incorporated the 9/11 attacks. That made sense since it took place in New York, but Chicago Fire has no reason to do that and it would be too sensitive a subject to fictionalize.

Clit • on Apr 22, 2013 3:38 pm

Steven, get out of the way and get back to the food tray. Maybe there’s a chocolate chip cookie left from the meeting you weren’t allowed to attend. Agents only.

Bombing during a marathon is a very old and used storyline in this biz. Go back home.

Gracias.

A Shrink • on Apr 22, 2013 4:42 pm

Chill Out, Clit. Why So Angry?

TV Food and Drink • on Apr 22, 2013 2:06 pm

I love the show and I hope they stay away from an episode based on the bombings. It’s lacking taste that television networks/producers have come to feel they have some obligation to working these tragedies into an hour of scripted entertainment television. The fact that the question is even asked indicates one too many television shows have already cashed in on real-life tragedy for the sake of a few extra promos. I won’t mention show names, but a recent episode does come to mind. Leave it alone.

Have you ever watched the show? They’ve showed the dudes shirtless way fewer times than NYPD Blue showed the characters’ asses. The NBC promos don’t help their cause, but there’s not all that much shirtless brooding – and there’s a lot of good action.

Sandra • on Apr 22, 2013 3:15 pm

Actually Dick Wolf behind Chicago Fire might be one of his better recent sucesses; oustanding drama, like SVU USED to be. Frankly, I’m ‘confident’ NBC is going to end SVU with season 15, and they should; it’s a shell of it’s former self. I don’t understand how Wolf can stand behind how SVU is these days.

Chris Meloni leaving isn’t hurting SVU, the new lackluster episodes are. Who is running this show now? Oh yeah, one of the guys who caused Law & Order: Criminal Intent’s downfall of the main character, Detective Goren (Vincent D’Onofrio). Bounce Warren Leight from SVU and let Chicago Fire’s writers run both SVU and Chi-Fire; NBC will have a ratings explosion (and no this was not a hint in any way to the Boston bombing).

just saying... • on Apr 22, 2013 3:30 pm

Oh,they fight fires also? I did not know that. I just assumed it was a hot models program & the firefighter aspect was put on the back-burner,er,sorta speak. :)

Clit • on Apr 22, 2013 3:36 pm

Hey, remember the spec “A Day in November” sold to Kopelson. A bomb to go off on the bridge at the NYC Marathon.